Month: April 2026

Dam end this afternoon with Alastair. 2 Greenshanks, 19 Common Sandpipers, 2 LRPs, 1 Ringed Plover, Hobby, Red Kite, Kestrel, 4 Common Terns, 2 BH Gulls, Mandarin, 2 Mistle Thrushes.

At dam end there is currently 15 C Sandpiper & 3 LR Plovers feeding along dam wall. Also 2 Greenshank have now arrived on dam wall.

West End:- 13 x Canada Goose, 3 x Egyptian Goose, 7 x Mandarin Duck, 4 x Mallard, 2 x Stock Dove, 5 x Common Woodpigeon, 4 x Black-headed Gull, 1 x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 x Common Tern, 9 x Great Crested Grebe, 23 x Great Cormorant, 1 x Little Egret, 18 x Grey Heron, 3 x Common Magpie, 4 x Eurasian Jackdaw, 1 x Carrion Crow, 1 x Marsh Tit, 2 x Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 x Common Reed Warbler, 2 x Common Chiffchaff, 2 x Eurasian Blackbird, 1 x European Robin, 1 x Common Chaffinch, 2 x European Goldfinch

WeirWood on a lovely calm bright early morning at the dam. And so it continues with 3 Common Scoter this morning mid reservoir, these remained until 6:20hrs when they flew north. On the dam Grey Wagtail, 17 Common Sands and still 2 Little-ringed Plovers. The Greenshank having left overnight. 4 Common Terns were around as were 6 Great-crested Grebes. A Goshawk male appeared over the south bank early on at 7:20 with an early Red Kite shortly after. In the c/pk Garden Warbler, a couple of Blackcaps and 4 Goldcrests. Moving on to the west end here the Black-headed Gulls look settled also 2 Common Terns were on a neighbouring platform. 2 Kingfishers were seen whizzing around. I was surprised to see a Great Egret flying over southwards, also a Little Egret in the busy heronry. At Whillett’s Reed Warbler, 3 Greenfinches and a smart male Reed Bunting. I left at 8:10hrs.

At least 17 common sands on the dam this morning – didnt see the LRPs – greenshanks didnt stay or left very early.

20.02 – Now 6 Greenshanks.

19:20-Still 5 Greenshanks, 3 Common Sandpipers & 2 Little ringed Plovers.
3 Swift,7 House Martins & male Goshawk over south bank,female Mandarin + 13 young.

WeirWood on a beautiful late afternoon started at the west end. Here pairs of Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls were seemingly settled, one of the gulls sitting on a nest. 14 Great-crested Grebes were present plus 2 male Mandarins. At the dam, 5 flighty Greenshanks, 3 jittery Common Sands and 2 Little-ringed Plovers on the dam. The plovers look like they’ve settled in, also mating so fingers crossed hope they breed. A Cuckoo flew over from the north bank, straight overhead, my first this year. A lovely Wood Sandpiper was on the small exposed bank on the north shoreline. Very nice bird. A few House Martins and Barn Swallows were noted over the dam and 4 Swifts were high up over the main reservoir. The last few days have been excellent, long may it last. I left at 17:30hrs.

Grey wagtail on the dam amongst the waders.

Only bits to add this afternoon was a Hobby feeding low along north bank,2 Swift’s,Kestrel,Red Kite and a small movement of 48 Herring gull & 3 LBB gull NE.
Still 2 Com Sands & 2 LRP plus Garden Warbler singing next to bins at sailing club.